Alliance Financial Corp. of Syracuse, N.Y., has agreed to buy Bridge Street Financial Inc. of Oswego for $55 million in cash and stock.

Matrix Bancorp Inc. in Denver continues to shed business lines that do not fit its newfound focus on community banking.

Prosperity Bancshares Inc. of Houston received a pair of upgrades for closing its largest banking acquisition earlier than anticipated.

First Financial Bancorp of Hamilton, Ohio, said it plans to lay off 200 employees and close 12 branches this year as part of a restructuring plan announced in February.

Houston Start-Up Will Focus on Small Businesses

In 1986, The Bankers Bank opened its first office in Atlanta and began serving banks across Georgia.

Glacier Bancorp Inc. of Kalispell, Mont., is buying its fourth banking company in two years.

Community Bank System Inc. of Syracuse, N.Y., has agreed to buy ES&L Bancorp Inc. of Elmira for about $39 million in cash.

Wilmington Trust Corp. in Delaware said its first-quarter earnings rose on strong loan growth.

Bankers in Arizona and Iowa have beaten back state legislation that could have penalized banks for making loans to illegal immigrants, but the bankers say their fight is not over.

Hancock Holding Co., of Gulfport, Miss., said its first-quarter earnings rose 43% from the same quarter last year, of $22 million.

Wintrust Financial Corp.'s stock plunged Friday after the company reported what investors perceived as disappointing core earnings.

Security Bank Corp. of Macon, Ga., plans to buy the $224 million-asset Homestead Bank in Suwanee for $50 million in cash and stock.

ViewPoint Bank in Plano, Tex., a former credit union that converted to a savings bank in December, said that it plans to raise up to $110 million in an initial public offering.

Amcore Financial Inc.'s management is asking analysts and investors to be patient with its expansion strategy.

Vineyard National Bancorp in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., said it plans to acquire the $228 million-asset Rancho Bank in San Dimas for about $57.8 million in cash.

Provident Bankshares Corp. of Baltimore reported Thursday that its first-quarter earnings rose 15.9% from a year earlier, to $18.3 million.

WesBanco Inc. in Wheeling, W.Va., announced Wednesday that its first-quarter earnings dropped 50% year over year, to $5.6 million.

TCF Financial Corp., of Wayzata, Minn., said it first-quarter earnings fell 8.3% from the same quarter last year, to $58.2 million.